Disease Reduction: G8 Commitment

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the G8 States to strengthen the World Health Organisation's work for the containment of AIDS and the prevention of other diseases.

Baroness Amos: The communique that G8 leaders issued at the end of their recent summit in Okinawa included a call on governments, international organisations, industry, academic institutions, NGOs and others to work more strongly together on achieving international targets for reducing HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The UK was influential in obtaining that commitment and will work to try to ensure that it is carried into effect.

Folic Acid Added to Flour

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to issue the consultation document on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) on the addition of folic acid to flour.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The United Kingdom Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency have today published a joint public consultation document on the report from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy which concluded that all flour should be fortified with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. The consultation period runs until 31 October 2000. The document is available in the Library and on the internet at www.doh.gov.uk/folicacid.

Meat Hygiene Service: Performance Targets

Lord Haskel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What performance targets have been set for the Meat Hygiene Service in 2000-01.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Following consultation with interested organisations, the board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) approved at its meeting on 20 July the following performance targets for the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) for 2000-01:
	1. Public Health Protection
	(a) Reduction of microbiological hazards in meat: Fully apply MHS Clean Livestock Policy. Not to apply the health mark stamp to any meat showing visible faecal or alimentary tract contents contamination. Take effective action in slaughterhouses with low Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores to improve hygiene standards.
	(b) Removal of Specified Risk Material (SRM) from the human and animal food chain:
	Strictly enforce SRM controls in abattoirs.
	2. Animal Welfare
	Strictly enforce Welfare at Slaughter and Killing Regulations.
	3. Staff Training
	Provide update training for all Principal Official Veterinary Surgeons and lead Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) in enforcement (training course to be developed in liaison with FSA Legal Services).
	Provide update training for 33 per cent of lead OVSs in animal welfare at slaughter (training course to be developed in liaison with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Animal Welfare Division).
	Provide refresher training for 33 per cent of lead OVSs in hygiene requirements (training course to be developed in liaison with FSA Veterinary Public Health Unit).
	All training to be completed by 31 March 2001 and to comply with Investors in People standards.
	4. Customer Focus
	Provision of high quality service.
	Introduce an independent element to MHS Appeals System.
	Sign up to Government Enforcement Concordat.
	To meet the FSA targets for customer service.
	Maintain full compliance with Charter Mark standards.
	5. Value for Money
	Efficiency.
	To implement those recommendations in the Pooley report applicable to the MHS and accepted by the FSA for implementation in 2000-01.
	To implement those recommendations in the external efficiency review accepted, and within the timetable laid down, by the FSA Board.
	6. Financial Performance
	To operate within the cash allocations as agreed with the FSA.
	To recover from government departments, agencies and the Intervention Board Executive Agency (IBEA) the full economic costs (calculated in accordance with the relevant charging legislation and accruals accounting) of providing agreed services or other work undertaken on their behalf.
	A copy of the consultation package, summary of responses and details of the assessment of these targets have been placed in the Library. They are also available on the FSA website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk.

Prime Minister's Family: Security Provision

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to provide bodyguards for the children of the Prime Minister.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: It has been the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on such matters.

Asylum Seekers: NI Numbers and Access to Benefits

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they accept the finding in paragraph 83 of the Audit Commission report Another Country that the average time taken for asylum seekers who have received a positive decision on their claim to gain access to social security benefits is four to six weeks and that the main reason is delay in obtaining National Insurance numbers; and if they do not accept this claim, what they consider is the average time, and on what information they base their consideration.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: I am not able to comment on the figures quoted by the Audit Commission in paragraph 83 because the Benefits Agency (BA) does not collect this information by client group. However, information on clearance times for claims is collected by benefit type. Claims target and performance figures for the 1999-2000 year for mainstream benefits are:
	
		
			 Target Performance 
			 Income Support 87 per cent in  13 days 87.2 per cent 
			 Jobseekers' Allowance  90 per cent in 21 days 97 per cent 
			 Incapacity Benefit 85 per cent  in 30 days 93.1 per cent 
		
	
	The Benefits Agency is aware that there have been some delays in the allocation of National Insurance Numbers (NINOs), but is taking steps to eliminate these delays. Additional resources were made available across the BA this year to enhance the process. Implementation begins this month, July 2000.
	Meanwhile local offices have been issued with guidance on making interim payments in circumstances where a NINO cannot be immediately allocated and where the BA is satisfied that a person is who he says he is.

Special Needs Children with Behavioural Disorder: Disability Living Allowance

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the number of families receiving a disability living allowance for children who have been designated as having special needs, mainly because of or including emotional behavioural difficulties, has increased or decreased over the past five years; and by how much, in (a) England; (b) Wales; (c) Scotland; and (d) Northern Ireland; and
	How many families are receiving a disability living allowance for children who have been designated as having special educational needs mainly because of or including, emotional behavioural difficulties, in (a) England; (b) Wales; (c) Scotland; and (d) Northern Ireland.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Available figures are in the following table:
	
		Children aged under 16 in receipt of disability living allowance whose main disabling condition is behavioural disorder*
		
			 Country 1994 Year(2) 1999 % increase(3) from 1994 to 1999 
			 England(4) 7,700 24,600 219 
			 Wales(4) 600 2,500 346 
			 Scotland(4) 900 3,100 247 
			 Northern  Ireland(5) 1,205 2,106 75 
		
	
	Notes:
	(1) Includes enuresis and hyperactivity.
	(2) Figures relate to 30 November.
	(3) Based on unrounded figures.
	(4) Rounded figures to nearest 100 from DSS Information Centre: 5 per cent data.
	(5) Unrounded figures from Northern Ireland DHSS: 100 per cent data.
	* Children regarded as having behaviour problems form a very broad group and include oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder, which are medically recognised categories of problem behaviour.
	Awards of DLA are assessed on the claimant's needs for care and mobility arising from their disability, not on educational needs. Information linking DLA awards and special educational needs is not available.
	The figures for Scotland and Wales are subject to relatively large margins of error because of the small number in the sample.

Jobseekers on Benefit Disallowance: Crisis Loans

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Annual Report on the Social Fund (Cm.4755), paragraph 3.7, what was the guidance issued in November 1999 to clarify when crisis loan restrictions should be applied to sanctioned or disallowed Jobseekers.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Guidance was issued by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Security in order to make explicit the beginning and end dates of the 14-day period of restricted access to Social Fund crisis loans which is imposed on Jobseekers who are subject to a benefit disallowance or sanction.

School Curriculum: Global Dimension

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to encourage the use of the new publication Developing a Global Dimension in the School Curriculum to influence the content of lessons in schools, and, if so, how.

Baroness Blackstone: The booklet, Developing a Global Dimension in the School Curriculum was prepared by the Department for International Development (DfID), working in partnership with my department and other bodies with expertise in development education. It is aimed at governors, headteachers and teachers with a responsibility for curriculum planning and demonstrates how the content of what is taught can be informed by international and global matters, thus preparing pupils to live effectively in a global society. The booklet was published on 7 July. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has recently announced targets to reduce the size and number of documents sent to schools, as part of his general drive against bureaucracy. The booklet will therefore not be sent automatically to all schools. It will be available free of charge from DfID and will be advertised in my department's publications, Spectrum and Teacher's Magazine. We are also investigating ways to promote the document on the Internet.

Sex and Relationship Education Guidance: Circulation to Ethnic and Religious Groups

Baroness Uddin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are ensuring that the ethnic minority and faith communities are being involved in the public consultation on their new Sex and Relationship Education Guidance published on 7th July.

Baroness Blackstone: Ethnic minority and faith communities were involved in the consultation on the draft guidance issued on 16th March. The document was sent to a wide range of groups and individuals and comments were received from the main Christian denominations and representatives from the Islamic, Jewish and Sikh faiths. We did not receive any comments from secular groups specifically representing ethnic minority interests. The guidance published on 7 July was sent to all those who had commented during the consultation.

Monetary Policy Committee: Interest Rate Determinants

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the Monetary Policy Committee takes into account, when considering the level of interest rates, that in May 2000 the retail prices index, excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX), would have been 1.6 per cent and not 2 per cent if the depreciation component for owner-occupied houses had not been introduced into the index in 1995.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is tasked to meet the Government's 2.5 per cent inflation target, which is defined in terms of the 12-month rate of increase in the Retail Prices Index excluding mortgage interest payments. The MPC monitors and takes account of all relevant economic variables, including house prices, when setting interest rates to meet the inflation target.

Tobacco-related Tax Revenue

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 July (WA 21), whether they will now publish in the Official Report the amount of money which was raised in the last financial year from tobacco-related taxes; and, if not, why not.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 11 July.

Asylum Law: Solicitors' Expertise

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to paragraphs 88 and 89 of the Audit Commission Report Another Country, whether they accept that solicitors competent in immigration law are not necessarily competent in asylum law.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Solicitors competent in immigration law are not necessarily competent in asylum law. All Legal Services Commission suppliers, however, have to meet strict quality standards in order to undertake publicly funded work in their chosen specialist areas, including immigration and asylum. Contracts, however, require that suppliers take on funded work only in areas where they are qualified.

Public Trust Office: Key Performance Targets

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the key performance targets for the Public Trust Office Executive Agency for 2000-01.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The following table sets out the key performance targets that I have set for the Public Trust Office for 2000-01.
	
		Public Trust Office Executive Agency Key Performance Targets 2000-01
		
			 Indicator Target 
			 1. To carry out accounting transactions within target times To bring to account at least 99 per cent of receipts and payment transactions within turnaround targets. 
			 2. To achieve investment performance targets. (a) On an annual basis to ensure that 85 per cent of all measured funds perform in line or better than their model based on stock market indices. (b) On a three-year rolling basis to ensure that 80 per cent of all measured funds perform in line or better than their model based on stock market indices. The benchmark to be the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers (APCIMS) indices. The Office will aim to introduce an income element from 2001-02. 
			 3. To achieve service standards. To achieve 95 per cent of the Public Trust Office Service Standards. 
			 4. To achieve targets for collection of private receivers' annual accounts (Protection Division) and for review of annual accounts filed by both private receivers and in Public Trustee receiverships (Protection and Receivership Divisions). (a) To review 95 per cent of accounts received within eight weeks of receipt (to apply to both Protection and Receivership Divisions). (b) To collect 90 per cent of accounts within six months of the due date; 95 per cent within nine months of the due date; and 100 per cent within 12 months of the due date (to apply to Protection Division only). 
			 5. To achieve targets for the visiting of Public Trust Office clients. (a) To visit all existing Receivership Division clients in the course of the year. (b) To visit all new clients within one year of the Public Trustee being apointed receiver. (c) To double the number of visits undertaken to Protection Division clients in 2000-01 from 2,000 to 4,000. (d) 100 per cent of urgent visits at the direction of the Court of Protection to take place within four weeks of the direction being given. 
			 6. To achieve financial performance and targets. (a) To come within the Change Programme budget for 2000-01. (b) To lay the PTO's annual report and acounts 1999-00 before Parliament before the summer recess. (c) To reduce debtor days in the Office's Protection Division from 94 to 85 days and in the Receivership Division from 96 to 85 days. 
		
	
	Note:
	Fuller details of the Office's plans and targets are given in its Business Plan, which is available from the Public Trust Office.

Access to Justice Act 1999, s. 78: Unified Bench

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When Section 78 of the Access to Justice Act 1999, concerning the unification of the stipendiary bench in England and Wales, will come into force.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Section 78 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 will come into force on 31 August 2000.
	Section 78 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 contains certain provisions relating to the Stipendiary Magistrates' Bench; namely the amalgamation of the Metropolitan and Provincial Benches to form one national jurisdiction throughout England and Wales, and a change of title from Stipendiary Magistrate to District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).
	The unification of the bench will mean that it will have a single judicial head, the Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate), who will be responsible for the administration of the bench. The Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) will be supported by a Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).
	Acting Stipendiary Magistrates will be known as Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).
	These changes are part of the Access to Justice Act reforms to improve the efficiency of Magistrates' Courts. The newly unified bench will allow greater flexibility in the allocation of judges to hear cases and respond to fluctuations in workloads.
	District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) will continue to complement and work alongside the 30,000 lay magistrates, providing an efficient partnership in delivering the criminal justice process.
	I am very pleased to announce these measures, as I believe that they will recognise the professional standing of the Stipendiary Magistracy and the importance of the work undertaken by the Magistrates' Courts as a whole.

House of Lords Reform: Compromise Negotiations

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement made by the Lord Chancellor that the Weatherill Amendment to the House of Lords Bill was "a compromise negotiated between Privy Counsellors on Privy Council terms" (H.L. Deb., 30 March 1999, col. 207), who were the parties to the negotiations; and where and between which dates did the negotiations take place.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The parties to the negotiation were the Lord Chancellor and Viscount Cranborne. Several meetings took place between 29 June and the end of November 1998. The places where the discussions took place are irrelevant.

Northern Ireland Executive Committee: Memorandum of Understanding

Baroness Lockwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Executive Committee intends to become a party to the Memorandum of Understanding.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Northern Ireland Executive Committee has recently decided to become a party to the Memorandum of Understanding originally agreed by the UK Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales last year. I am therefore publishing today (as Cm 4806) the text of the Memorandum of Understanding and the supplementary agreements as agreed by all four administrations. The paper will also be made available on the Cabinet Office Internet site shortly.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Williams of Mostyn and Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which of the cars listed are those supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for the use of Law Officers and senior civil servants; and whether they will list the number, type and make of the vehicles.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I would refer the noble Lord to the reply to him from the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, dated 24 July 2000, which sets out the relevant information.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which of the cars listed are supplied to the Cabinet Office for the use of Law Officers and senior officials by the Government Car and Despatch Agency; and whether they will list the number, type and make of each car.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I would refer the noble Lord to the reply to him from the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, dated 24 July 2000, which sets out the relevant information.

Sudan Foreign Minister's Visit

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the granting of a visa to the Foreign Minister of the Government of Sudan is consistent with the spirit of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1054, 1966.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: UNSCR 1054 of 1996 requires states to restrict the entry of members of the Government of Sudan, officials of that Government and members of the Sudanese armed forces. This resolution remains in force. It is not a blanket prohibition. Consistent with our international obligations, we look at all applications in categories subject to restrictions on a case by case basis. We judge that the visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister to the UK will further UK efforts to promote peace, democratisation and human rights in the Sudan.

Sudan Foreign Minister's Visit

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the visit by the Foreign Minister of the Government of Sudan is consistent with their commitment to a human rights-based foreign policy; and whether they will raise with the Foreign Minister the continuing bombing of civilian targets by the Government of Sudan.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are committed to improving the human rights situation in Sudan. We believe that some progress has already been made by the Government of Sudan in this field. There, is of course still much more to be done, but we remain convinced that this can only be achieved through a frank and constructive dialogue with the Sudanese Government.
	Human rights concerns, including aerial bombings of civilian targets by the Government of Sudan, were raised both by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and by my honourable friend the Member for Neath when they met the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 18 July.

Plan Colombia

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect "Plan Colombia" to contribute to peace and stability.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Peace and stability will remain elusive in Colombia until a concerted effort is made to tackle the interconnected problems of violence, inequality, poverty and social injustice, drugs cultivation and trafficking. Plan Colombia sets out the Colombian Government's proposals for tackling these problems. The UK and the international community more widely are currently considering the best way to support their efforts.

Plan Colombia

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether "Plan Colombia" is essentially military in purpose; whether it addresses adequately economic and social issues; whether it deals with corruption in official quarters and with the need to ensure accountability and professionalism in the armed services; and whether there was wide enough consultation in its preparation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: "Plan Colombia" sets out the Colombian Government's proposals for tackling the interconnected problems of violence, social and economic inequality, abuse of human rights, and drugs cultivation and trafficking. It contains significant socio-economic initiatives and a pledge to tackle corruption in official quarters. It is of course important that the Armed Forces of Colombia are accountable to the elected civilian authorities. The UK and others have strongly encouraged the Colombian Government to consult NGOs and civil society more widely about the proposals contained in "Plan Colombia".

Plan Colombia

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the response of the United Kingdom and the European Union to requests for support for "Plan Colombia".

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of efforts to support the peace process in Colombia since the Prime Minister's meeting with President Pastrana on 13 April. However, neither the United Kingdom nor the European Union has made any decision about what additional aid could be given to Colombia. We are determined however that any aid will support human rights, long-term social and economic development, and an end to violence.

Israel: Alleged Cruise Missile Capacity

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their estimates of the implications for long-term peace and security in the Middle East of the reported development by Israel of a sea-launched cruise missile with the capability of carrying a nuclear weapon.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We note that an Israeli spokesman has described as baseless the allegations which appeared in the Sunday Times on 18 June.
	We do not believe that the long-term security interests of any Middle East state are served by possessing weapons of mass destruction. We support the establishment of a Middle East zone free from all weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and urge all states in the Middle East which have not yet done so to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions.

Bahrain

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the Government of Bahrain about the report by the Bar Human Rights Committee and the Parliamentary Human Rights Court on the State Security Courts; and what assistance they have offered on reform of judicial procedures in Bahrain.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are willing to consider a request from the Bahrain Government for assistance with reforming their judicial procedures.

Bahrain

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in view of the plans by the Government of Bahrain to hold elections to the Shura Council in 2004, and to give the Shura Council legislative powers, they will offer the Government of Bahrain technical assistance in drafting the law on elections and in training the staff who will serve the legislature.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are willing to consider any request from the Bahrain Government for technical assistance and staff training.

Services Separation Bonuses

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they will not give a £7,500 bounty to any Serviceman or woman who has to carry out a second six-month unaccompanied tour within a 24-month period.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No proposal for the introduction of a £7,500 bounty has been considered by the Ministry of Defence.
	Enhancements to separation allowances were announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 20 December 1999. An existing allowance known as Longer Separated Service Allowance (LSSA), which is payable to Service personnel who have completed a qualifying period of service and are separated from their duty stations for periods of 10 continuous days or more (whether operationally or not), was enhanced to include a two-tier bonus scheme known as Accumulated Turbulence (AT) and Accumulated Turbulence Plus (AT+). These are taxable lump sums paid as compensation to personnel who experience an intensive level of separation (however occasioned) over a two-year period. LSSA (AT) of £1,000.00 is paid once 280 accumulated days' paid separation has been accrued in a two-year period. Similarly, LSSA (AT-) of an additional £1,000.00 is paid once 365 accumulated days' paid separation has been accrued within the same two-year period.
	The equivalent payment for those in receipt of Longer Service at Sea Bonus (paid primarily to the Royal Navy) is made to personnel deployed for more than 12 months or who spend less than nine months in their base port in any two-year period.
	A further payment is made when personnel are deployed for more than 16 months or spend less than six months in their base port in the same two-year period.
	Unusually, the bonuses were backdated to 1 December 1997 (which was the original implementation date of LSSA). The first two-year period therefore ended 1 December 1999. As at 23 June 2000, more than £4.6 million had been paid in AT bonuses.

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

Baroness Lockwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the future of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In July 1998, as part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government concluded that the future for DERA could best be secured by harnessing the opportunities offered by a Public Private Partnership.
	On 17 April, we announced a period of consultation on a document describing our current proposals (Official Report, 17 April, cols. 366-367W). This consultation exercise came to an end on 9 June. In their responses, stakeholders, including the Defence Select Committed, have acknowledged the improvements we have made over earlier proposals and have welcomed our willingness to listen to their views. The overall response has been positive, with the majority of stakeholders recognising the need for change and endorsing our proposals as a sensible way forward.
	Consequently, we have concluded that we should proceed with the Core Competence model set out in the consultation document, separating those functions that are best performed within a private sector company, and those that are best performed wholly within government. Around three-quarters of the current DERA will be turned into a company, which will move to the private sector through a flotation which could be in 2001. The terms and conditions of staff will be protected by TUPE regulations. Just under 3,000 staff will be retained within the Ministry of Defence to provide a high level overview of defence science and technology, in-house impartial advice and management of international research collaboration. The retained elements would include sensitive programmes and sectors such as the Chemical and Biological Defence sector based at Porton Down, the majority of the Centre for Defence Analysis and the Defence Radiological Protection Service.
	The new company will have the freedom to flourish, to develop its business and to exploit the wealth of knowledge it has built over the years to the benefit of the wider UK economy. It will be capable of attracting and retaining staff with expertise in areas that are also in demand from other private sector companies. We will explore the potential for employees of the new company to benefit from the partnership. This might include the establishment of a share scheme linked to the organisation's future performance.
	The new company is likely to continue to provide the Ministry of Defence's largest source of independent scientific and technical capability into the foreseeable future. This does not imply that the relationship with the Ministry of Defence will, in principle, need to be different from that with other private sector organisations. To help ensure the smooth creation of the new company, we have begun the search for a suitable chairman.
	Retained DERA (RDERA) will perform a number of critical functions for the Ministry of Defence. It will be a world class organisation offering rewarding career opportunities within the Ministry of Defence and the wider civil service. We envisage that RDERA will continue under the existing Trading Fund arrangements, although we will wish to assure ourselves that this will be appropriate in the longer term.
	We are confident that the principles behind Core Competence are right, but we recognise that there is much detailed work to be carried out during implementation. Our timetable envisages that we will achieve separation between the two parts by the end of this year. We will then conduct a rigorous period of shadow operation to demonstrate that both organisations and their supporting infrastucture are robust and will perform as expected. We expect this to last around three months but we retain the flexibility to extend the period if we feel that it is prudent to do so.
	Thereafter we will vest the company with its assets, establish it as a separate government-owned plc, and complete the preparations necessary for its sale. As we identified in the consultation document, our preference is to seek a flotation on the stock market as soon as its potential is suitably developed and as soon as we can ensure best value for the taxpayer. We will keep open the option of seeking a strategic partner for the business as an intermediate step. It is likely that the Ministry of Defence will initially retain a financial stake in the new company to ensure that the taxpayer will benefit from the growth following the sale. We do not envisage that in the longer term we would continue to hold a financial stake in the company. However, we intend to retain a special share as a means of protecting UK defence interests, such as ensuring continuing access to strategic assets.
	DERA is also home to the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA), which was set up to help take forward our commitment to strengthening links between civil and military technology. We remain fully committed to ensuring that the objectives set for the DDA are met, and we are currently reviewing how best to take forward its role in the light of the PPP process.
	Throughout the PPP process we have remained committed to the objective of ensuring the best possible future for DERA and for defence science and technology. We have consulted widely, listening and responding to the views of our stakeholders. We now have a way forward that is workable and which is good for DERA, the Ministry of Defence and the wider UK economy. It will offer value for money to the taxpayer whilst ensuring that our Armed Forces retain access to leading edge technology. It will provide a stimulus for the exploitation of science within the wider UK economy and strengthen the links between civil and defence technology.

Armed Forces Equipment: Improvement

Baroness Lockwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to improve the Armed Forces' equipment capability as a result of lessons learned from Kosovo.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Our analysis of operations in Kosovo identified a number of important equipment capability lessons. The highest priority of these is the need for improvements to our capability to attack static, mobile and armoured targets with precision in all weather conditions, and to improve the security of our communications.
	In March we announced trials of the integration of Maverick anti-armour missiles on Harrier GR7 and of enhanced security for air-to-air communications on key aircraft types.
	We have now decided that we will proceed with the procurement of Maverick missiles as soon as the integration trials are successfully completed, subject to satisfactory contract negotiations. Maverick is a proven, off-the-shelf precision guided missile that we can procure very quickly and it will give us a better capability to attack mobile and static targets by day and night. We expect the missiles to be available towards the end of this year.
	On air-to-air communications, most of the trials have been completed and we will now go ahead with the fitting of the system to a number of aircraft.
	Furthermore, we have decided to procure as early as possible weapons that will provide the RAF with a new precision guided all-weather bombing capability. Use of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology will allow us to overcome the problems caused by poor weather during Kosovo. Subject to a successful flight trial, the weapons should be available next year.

Bowman Tactical Combat Radio

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the procurement strategy for acquiring the Tactical Combat Radio.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Bowman aims to provide a tactical combat radio communications system to replace Clansman, which has been in service since the mid-70s.
	To deliver this project, we have been working with Archer Communication Systems Ltd (ACSL), as our preferred supplier. ACSL has improved in recent months, but we have concluded that its proposal (submitted to us on 23 June) would not represent best value for money. We have, therefore, decided to hold a competition to meet the Bowman requirement. Through competition, we shall seek to achieve the best combination of performance, cost and timely delivery into service. The competition will offer substantial opportunities for participation for UK industry.

Veterinary Laboratory Agency: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the 1999-2000 Annual Report for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency.

Baroness Hayman: The 1999-2000 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Lockwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the 1999-2000 Annual Report for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Baroness Hayman: The 1999-2000 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate have been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the 1999-2000 Annual Report for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Baroness Hayman: The 1999-2000 Annual Report and Accounts for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

MAFF: Development of Regional Structure

Lord Haskel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made regarding the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's regional activities.

Baroness Hayman: The Government have decided to make a number of important changes to the way the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food operates in the regions in order to improve the services we offer to farmers and to strengthen the contribution we make to the wider rural economy. We will participate fully in the Government Offices for the Regions, strengthening MAFF's regional policy capability. We will set up new organisational structures to enhance the delivery of rural development polices. And we will invest up to £130 million over the next spending period to modernise the way we administer CAP schemes, taking full advantage of the benefits of electronic service delivery.
	We have given careful consideration to the findings of a detailed study of methods of delivering CAP payments, submitted at the beginning of this year by PricewaterhouseCoopers. We have concluded that the interests of farmers, traders and taxpayers would best be served by the creation of a new CAP Payments Agency, merging the paying agency functions of MAFF's nine Regional Service Centres and the Intervention Board to provide top quality customer service using modern electronic systems. Farmers and traders will benefit from a reduction in "red tape" and more efficient and rapid processing of payments, with the achievement of 95 per cent electronic service delivery capability by March 2004. There will be significant benefits for taxpayers, with a 10 per cent cut by March 2004 in unit costs of administering payments and further savings in subsequent years after the new agency is fully established.
	We have written to the main organisations representing farmers and traders to explain how the agency will work, and to seek their views on the best ways of ensuring a smooth transition to the new arrangements. We will work very closely with our customers to help them reap the benefits which electronic service delivery offers. However, we recognise that many farmers are apprehensive about changes in the way their claims are handled and we will maintain arrangements for face-to-face local contacts with farmers, at least until the new IT systems are fully operational and everyone has easy local access to the Internet.
	The agency will be constituted as an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and will therefore be answerable to its Minister. It will continue to administer the schemes currently operated by the Intervention Board in all parts of the UK, and the devolved administrations will therefore be represented on its Ownership Board. It will operate from five sites, with its headquarters at Reading and other sites at Carlisle, Exeter, Newcastle and Northallerton. The work that will transfer to the new agency currently accounts for some 80 per cent of the 2,000 staff in the Regional Service Centres and nearly all the Intervention Board's 1,350 staff. By the time the new systems are fully operational (2004), we estimate that the total number of staff required will fall to around 1,950. We will make every effort to find suitable alternative employment for staff who are no longer required as a result of the modernisation programme.
	We have also been reviewing other aspects of MAFF's organisation in the regions in the light of the Modernising Government initiative and the recent PIU reports Rural Economies and Reaching Out. It is now right to establish greater integration of MAFF's strategic and policy activities in the regions with Government Offices. We are therefore preparing to provide a senior member of MAFF staff, with appropriate support, to join each Government Office. This will help to strengthen the rural capability of the Government Offices and improve their links with the MAFF. And it will foster closer relationships with regional stakeholders, including the agriculture, fisheries and food industries, and their representatives, regional institutions such as the Regional Development Agencies, and representatives of rural and environmental interests.
	Parallel to the integration with Government Offices, we have decided to restructure the work currently carried out in the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA) and the non-CAP payment functions of the Regional Service Centres. We will create a single, nationally managed but largely regionally based service to carry out this work. The service will be set up so that it relates effectively to Government Offices. Its staff will be located throughout England and will continue to provide a local service on the ERDP schemes.
	We will build on the considerable skills of staff in FRCA and the Regional Service Centres to create the new service as a centre of excellence for the delivery of rural development policies and programmes, particularly one of MAFF's flagship policies--the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). It will provide continuing employment opportunities for some staff at the RCSs which are not to be CAPPA sites (Bristol, Cambridge, Crewe, Nottingham and Worcester) as well as for FRCA staff.
	We would expect to review these organisational arrangements in 2003 at the end of the mid-point review of the ERDP, and to consider at that stage whether further integration with the Government Offices would be sensible.
	The decision to implement this comprehensive programme of changes is a further element in MAFF's commitment to delivering efficient and responsive modern public services. The new CAP Payments Agency will ensure that service standards to farmers and traders are second to none. And agriculture and the wider rural economy will benefit through the strengthening of MAFF's regional policy presence.
	We recognise that these decisions will create considerable uncertainty for staff in MAFF's Regional Service Centres and at the Intervention Board who have worked hard to provide good services to their customers. We have met the trade unions to discuss the position, and to assure them that we are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and sensitively as we take the change programme forward.

IACS Inspections, Penalties and Recoveries

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many inspections of farms, in connection with the audit of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) returns made by farmers, were carried out in each county in England during 1999; and what was the total number and amount of penalties and repayments imposed on each county.

Baroness Hayman: The information requested by the noble Lord is only available at present for 1998 and for the area covered by each MAFF Regional Service Centre (RSC) rather than for individual counties. The table below shows the number of inspections carried out by each RSC in 1998-99 and the total number of penalties and recoveries exceeding 4,000 ecus in value that were imposed in each RSC area in 1998. In each case the figures cover certain agri-environmental schemes as well as IACS.
	
		
			  Regional Service Centre (RSC)   Counties covered by RSC  IACS Declarations IACS and ESA inspections (1998-99)(6) Penalties & recoveries> 4,000 ecus(7)  Amounts recovered (£)(8) 
			 England All counties 76,469 24,173 249 1,538,866 
			   
			 Anglia  (Cambridge) Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk 10,140 1,318 14 105,846 
			   
			 East Midlands  (Nottingham) Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire 9,505 2,403 39 209,416 
			   
			 North East  (Northallerton) Cleveland, Durham, Humberside, Yorkshire 11,506 4,036 54 296,800 
			   
			 Northern  (Carlisle) Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear 8,390 3,883 32 171,005 
			   
			 North Mercia  (Crewe) Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Shropshire, Staffordshire 7,344 2,438 30 130,830 
			   
			 South East  (Reading) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Greater London, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex 7,484 1,960 99 99,058 
			   
			 South Mercia  (Worcester) Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands 6,160 2,187 34 292,365 
			   
			 South West  (Exeter) Devon, Cornwall, Isle of Scilly 9,579 3,908 23 86,577 
			   
			 Wessex  (Bristol) Avon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire 6,361 2,040 15 146,969 
		
	
	(6) Includes inspections of area and livestock aid claims submitted under IACs, as well as inspections of claims under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme.
	(7) The figures include penalties and recoveries corresponding to claims for area and livestock aid under IACs and under agri-environment schemes. No figures are available for penalties and recoveries worth less than 4,000 ecus i.e. less than £2,667.82 in 1998 (1 ecu = £0.666954).
	(8) The amounts shown correspond to the penalties and recoveries worth more than 4,000 ecus.